Netbooks are incredibly popular, and with good reason. Not only are they compact enough to slip easily into a bag or rucksack, they're also much lighter than most laptops, so they're a popular choice for people who need to carry a computer everywhere they go. Price is also a big part of their appeal and netbooks typically cost much less than standard ultra-portable laptops.
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Netbooks are tough enough for kids to use at school (and inexpensive enough to replace if lost or stolen), and are ideal as a second or third computer, for use at — or away from — home.
Netbooks are capable computers that can be used for a wide range of tasks. There are some important differences between netbooks and traditional laptops though, so if you're thinking of buying one, here are the main things to be aware of.
Storage
Storage capacity should be a consideration for any computer you buy, but netbooks (and laptops, for that matter) aren't easily upgradeable, so it pays to choose a model that suits your needs from the start. Two types of storage are available on netbooks — hard drives and solid-state drives.
Netbooks are available with hard drives with similar capacities to traditional laptops — anything up to around 160Gb, at the moment. While it's unlikely that you'll be carrying a large music or photo collection around on your netbook, a large hard drive will mean that you can install all of the applications you want and not have to worry about running out of space.
Unfortunately, while they can hold lots of data, hard drives are fragile and if you're buying a netbook because you want a computer you can toss into a bag at a moment's notice (something for which netbooks are ideal), they may not be the best choice. The alternative is a netbook with a solid-state drive, or SSD. SSDs work in a similar way to memory cards, and since they have no moving parts they're far more resistant to the bumps and bangs then laptops tend to be. The catch is that SSDs are quite pricey, which means many netbooks come with low capacity drives to keep costs down.
One useful way of supplementing netbook storage is to use an online storage service — essentially personal space on the internet for your own files that you can access from any computer. Some netbooks come bundled with free online storage, but there are a number of other paid-for services available.
Due to their small size and low price, netbooks do not have an internal optical drive, so you'll need to connect an external USB optical drive if you want to install software from CD or DVD. This is an important consideration if you intend to listen to a lot of CD music or watch movies from DVD.
Battery Life
Netbooks may be small and light enough to carry everywhere you go, but they're not much use with a flat battery and no nearby mains socket. Battery capacities differ from netbook to netbook — some models have low capacity batteries that only last for a couple of hours, while others can stretch to three or four between charges.
Some netbooks combine a high capacity battery with customisable power settings to push battery life still further. When connected to mains power, you can use a high performance mode and switch to a more frugal power-saving mode when away from the mains. Some netbooks use this technology to offer battery life of up to ten hours, which can be enough for a whole day's work on the road.
It's important to note, however, that the battery life of all netbooks is affected by what they're used for. You'll get the longest battery life with word processing and light web browsing, while running multiple or processor-intensive applications will reduce battery life dramatically.
Which Operating System?
Netbooks are available with a choice of operating systems, either Microsoft Windows or Linux.
Windows is the most popular operating system in the world and you almost certainly use it on other computers you have access to. Windows-based netbooks will work without modification with many devices and software you may already own, including printers, cameras, MP3 players, external disc drives and software packages such as games. This can be important depending on how you plan to use it – you may not be pleased to find your new netbook isn’t compatible with your camera, or requires a lengthy set-up process to be.
If you choose to purchase a Windows-based netbook you will have access to additional free software and services provided by Microsoft in the form of Windows Live. Free features like photo editing and organising, mail & calendar for use offline, movie making, messaging and family safety are all just a download away.
The alternative is a netbook that runs Linux. Its unfamiliarity may be a deterrent to some, but some netbooks use a customised version of Linux that hides the more complicated features away behind a user-friendly interface that even small children can get to grips with.
A netbook that runs Linux can't run the same applications that run on Windows, although some, like Firefox, are available for both operating systems. Linux netbooks do usually come with a full set of applications pre-installed (which can help cut costs), and some will work in a similar way to — and may be compatible with — their Windows counterparts.
If you are planning on purchasing a netbook as a second computer it is also worth considering the compatibility with your other PCs, as this may affect your ability to synch data between the devices, transfer files, and perform the same tasks across all machines.
Connectivity
If you're buying a netbook so that you can access the internet wherever you are, it's important to choose a model with connectivity options that suit your needs. All models can connect to wired Ethernet networks and 802.11b/g networks, but some netbooks also support 802.11n for super-fast Wi-Fi network connections.
If you want to use mobile broadband, all netbooks have at least two USB ports into which you can plug a 3G broadband dongle. Some newer netbooks also have onboard 3G, so you just need to sign up for a mobile broadband account and slip the SIM card into the built-in slot. If you have a 3G mobile phone with Bluetooth, you can connect it to a netbook with Bluetooth and use it as a wireless 3G modem — just make sure your mobile phone provider's terms and conditions allow it.
Warranties
One final thing to consider when buying a netbook is the warranty. A one-year UK warranty is standard on most models, although some manufacturers offer the option of extending this to two years (usually for a fee). Some netbook manufacturers do offer a two-year warranty as standard though, so check the small print before buying.
The type of warranty is also worth noting. 'Collect & return' is the most convenient, since the manufacturer will arrange for a faulty netbook to be collected and returned once repaired. 'Return to base', on the other hand, means you'll have to pay the delivery cost yourself.
Microsoft Office
One of the great things about netbooks is that it's as easy to work on the train with them as it is to work on your sofa or in bed. By having Microsoft Office on your netbook, you'll know that you've got the tools to get your home, work or school tasks done quickly and easily. Also, with the new graphic options available in Office 2007, you'll be able to make sure they always look great.
Use templates to quickly get the family finances in order, create a personalised party invite, or a stunning school project and then store them in Office Live Workspace. Office Live Workspace is the online companion for Office that lets you work on documents from any PC as well as share with your family or friends. You can share a calendar, access homework from school or plan a holiday with others, and it makes working on your netbook as well as another PC a lot easier.
Home and Student 2007 comes with the familiar Word, Excel and PowerPoint - essential for attractive school or work presentations - and OneNote. OneNote 2007 is a notetaking programme designed to make it easy to jot your thoughts down, grab information from the web, collate research for a project and then be able to search it all. It's simple to use and handy when you’re on the move.
If you're using Microsoft Office at home or work, using Office on your netbook means you won't have to worry about differences in formats or documents. It'll also be familiar to use, so it's easy to get up and running. And if you buy Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, you will receive three licences, allowing you to install it on your Netbook and upgrade your home PC.
Ref: Thinking of Buying a New Netbook?
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